Acetylene-gas generator.



G. H. DAVIS.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

1,060,671 Patentd May 6, 1913.

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AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912 1,060,671 Patented May 6, 1913.

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GEORGE E. DAVIS, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Application filed May 20, 1912. Serial No. 698,528.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DAVIS, citizenof the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberlandand State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in acetylene gas generators andmore particularly to a portable generator of this character which isparticularly adapted for use on automobiles, launches, and the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of animproved gas generator of this character in which the gas in the gasstorage chamber will be maintained at a constant uniform pressureregardless of the degree of pressure which may exist in the waterchamber so that the gas will always pass to the burners at a uniformpressure and flickering of the lights will be prevented.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of agenerator having the above named characteristics which is provided withmeans for initially starting the generation of the gas and which is soconstructed that it will, when once started, automatically generate gasproportionately to its consumption at the burners.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detaileddescription hereinafter when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof wherein a convenient embodiment of theinvention is shown, and wherein like characters of reference refer tosimilar parts in the several views.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improvedgenerator, parts in elevation; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig.3 is a longitudinal section through one end of the generator, and Fig. 4is a cross section through the carbid chamber of the generator.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates the casingof the generator, which in the form of the invention illustrated is inthe shape of an elongated metal cylinder, the forward end of which isclosed by a suitable head A and the rear end of which is provided withan opening therein for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly setforth.

Positioned within the casing A intermediate the ends thereof is apartition A which serves to divide the easing into a water chamber A atthe front end thereof, and a carbid chamber A at the rear end thereof.The open rear end of the casing A is normally closed by means of a capwhich may be of any desired construction, and which is adapted to beremoved when it is desired to charge the carbid chamber A. Any suitableform of carbid receptacle may be placed in the carbid chamber A for theretention of carbid, and as such receptacle forms no part of the presentinvention, I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the same.

Secured within the lower portion of the front wall A of the casing A andprojecting within the water chamber A is a pump barrel C, the front endof which projects outwardly beyond the front wall A of the casing and isclosed by a cap which is provided with a suitable stuffing box. Work--ing within said stuffing box is a plunger rod G, the inner end of whichcarries a piston C which is adapted to slide within the pump cylinder Cand the outer end of which is rovided with a suitable operating han dleC by means of which the plunger rod may be reciprocated. The pumpcylinder or barrel C is provided with a plurality ofopenings 0 thereinwhich are positioned in advance of the piston C when the same is in itsextreme innermost position in the pump cylinder, and which serves toestablish communication between the water chamber A and the interior ofthe pump barrel or cylinder.

Secured to the front wall A of the casing A adjacent the lower portionthereof and extending outwardly therefrom, is a tubular valve casing Dthe outer end of which is enlarged to provide a diaphragm chamber D, theinterior of which is divided by a suitable diaphragm D The valve casingD is provided adjacent the inner end thereof with an apertured valveseat cl therein, with which valve seat a needle valve d is adapted tocooperate said needle valve being carried by a valve rod (P, the outerend of which is secured in any suitable manner to the diaphragm DCarried by the valve rod d and positioned in rear of the needle valve (Zis a piston (Z which engages the interior of the cylindrical portion ofthe valve casing D with asliding fit so as to form a substantially gastight joint therewith. The needle valve d is normally held out ofengagement with its seat by means of a coil spring d which encircles thevalve rod (Z and is interposed between a suitable fixed abutment in theinterior of the valve casing D and an abutment (Z which is mounted onthe valve rod (Z The abutment (Z is preferably adj ustably supported onthe valve rod d sothat the tension of the spring d can be varied.

Secured to the front wall A of the generator in any suitable manner is asafety valve casing E which is provided with an apertured valve seat 6therein, said safety valve casing being provided in advance of theapertured valve seat 6 therein with suitable apertures e therein openingto the atmosphere. The opening in. the valve seat e is normally closedby a safety valve E which is held to its seat by a suitable spring Ewhich may be of any desired construction. In practice it is desirable toprovide means for adjusting the tension of the spring E so that thesafety valve may be set to open when any desired degree of pressure hasbeen reached.

Connecting the forward end of the pump cylinder C with the valve casingD in rear of the apertured valve seat d is a pipe F. Connecting thevalve casing D immediately in front of the apertured seat (Z therein,with the safety valve casing E in rear of the apertured seat 0 thereinis a pipe F. Communicating with the pipe F intermediate its connectionwith the valve casing D and the safety valve casing E is one end of apipe F 2 which pipe extends upwardly from its connection with. the pipeF through the front wall A of the generator casing, the partition A inthe casing, and to the upper portion of the carbid chamber A where it isconnected to a tubular member G which is secured to the upper portion ofthe carbid chamber and extends downwardly therefrom, the lower portionof said tubular member being provided with laterally disposed dischargepipes G. The tubular member G is conveniently secured in position byproviding the same with a reduced threaded portion 9 which projectsthrough a suitable opening formed in the wall of the generator casingand upon which is threaded a suitable clamping nut g for securing thetubular member in position. The upper end of the tubular member G ispreferably provided with a removable closure G so that when desired,said, closure may be removed and a clean-out wire introduced into thepipe F The pipe F is also connected intermediate its connection with thevalve casing D and the safety valve casing E to the diaphragm chamber Din front of the diaphragm D therein by means of a pipe F which pipe isconveniently arranged in alinement with the pipe F Secured in the upperportion of the front wall of the casing A and extending rearwardlytherefrom, through the partition A in the casing and into the carbidchamber A is a gas outlet tube H, the interior of which is convenientlyprovided with a suitable filter and the flow of gas from which iscontrolled by a reducing valve H of any well known construction.

The water chamber A is provided with a suitable fill opening I enablingthe same to be filled with water.

In the operation of the device, the water chamber A and the carbidchamber A are first charged respectively with carbid and water. Thegenerator is then placed in a horizontal position. There being nopressure in either the water or carbid chambers the spring (Z will holdthe needle valve d off its seat cZ.- To start the generator the pumpplunger 0 is manipulated so as to force water from the water chamberthrough the pipe F, the apertured valve seat cl, the pipe F, the pipe Fthe tubular member G and from thence through the pipes G onto the carbidin the carbid chamber A As the gas is generated in the carbid chamber Aa portion of said gas will pass through the tubular member G, the pipe Fthe pipe F, the pipe F, the pump cylinder C and from thence into thewater chamber A so that gas under pressure will accumulate in the upperportion of said water chamber. As soon as the pressure in the carbidchamber A exceeds the pressure at which the diaphragm D is set to close,said diaphragm will be moved inwardly by the gas which passes from thecarbid chamber through the pipes F and F and the needle valve cl will bemoved into engagement with its seat (Z, thus cutting off thecommunication between the water chamber and the carbid chamber. Upon adiminution of the pressure in the carbid chamber A, however, the spring(Z will move the needle valve (Z off its seat, thus allowing the gas inthe upper portion of the water chamber to force water into the carbidchamber and again bringing the pressure therein up to normal.

The safety valve E is set to workat a pressure considerable in excess ofthe pressure at which the needle valve cl will be actuated. From theconstruction hereinbefore described, it will be seen that should anexcessive pressure for any reason whatever accumulate in either thewater or carbid chambers, the safety valve IE will be actu ated torelieve such pressure.

I do not desire to claim herein broadly an acetylene. gas generatorcomprising a water chamber, a gas generating chamber, a communicationbetween the water chamber and gas generating chamber adapted toalternately feed water from the water chamber to the generating chamberand gas from the generating chamber to the water chamber, in combinationwith means for forcing water from the water chamber through saidcommunication to the gas generating chamber to prime the generator, as Ihave described and claimed this construction in my copending applicationSerial No. 678,929.

\Vhile I have illustrated a convenient embodiment of the invention inthe accompanying drawings, it will be understood that many changes maybe made to the particular form and construction therein shown withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

, I claim 1. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gasgenerating chamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance of anormally high pressure therein, a communication between the lowerportion of the water chamber and the gas generating chamber, adapted toalternately feed water from the water chamber to the generating chamherand gas from the generating chamber to the water chamber, upon adiminution of the normal pressure in either of said chambers, a valve insaid communication, means for normally holding said valve in its openposition, and means actuated by the pressure in the generating chamberfor closing said valve and means associated with said communication forpositively forcing water from the water chamber through saidcommunication into the generating chamber to prime the generator.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance of a normallyhigh pressure therein, a communication between the lower portion of thewater chamber and the generating chamber adapted to alternately feedwater from the water chamber to the generating chamber and gas from thegenerating chamber to the water chamber, upon a diminution of the normalpressure in either of said chambers, a valve in said communication,means for normally holding said valve in its open position, a. diaphragmchamber, a diaphragm therein, a connection between said diaphragm andsaid valve, and a connection between the diaphragm chamber and thegenerating chamber and means associated with said communication forpositively forcing water from the water chamber through saidcommunication into the generating chamber to prime the generator.

3. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance of a normallyhigh pressure therein, a communication between the lower portion of thewater chamber and the gas generating chamber adapted to alternately feedwater from the water chamber to the generating chamber and gas from thegenerating chamber to the water chamber, upon a diminution of the normalpressure in either of said chambers, a valve in said communication, adiaphragm chamber, a diaphragm therein, a valve rod connecting saiddiaphragm and said valve, a spring for normally holding said valve inits open position, and a pipe connecting the diaphragm chamber with thecommunication between the water chamber and the generating chamber abovethe valve therein and means associated with said communication forpositively forcing water from the Water chamber through saidcommunication into the generating chamber to prime the generator.

4. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance of a normallyhigh pressure therein, a communication between the lower portion of thewater chamber and the gas generating chamber, a normally open valve insaid communication, means controlled by the pressure in the gasgenerating chamber for closing said valve, and means associated withsaid communication for forcing water from the water chamber through saidcommunication into the generating chamber.

5. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance therein of anormally high pressure, a communication between the lower portion of thewater chamber and the gas generating chamber, a pressure actuated valvein said communication, and means associated with said communication forforcing water from the water chamber through said communication into thegenerating chamber.

6. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance therein of anormally high pressure, a communication between the lower portion of thewater chamber and the generating chamber adapted to alternately feedwater from the water chamber to the generating chamber and gas from thegenerating chamber to the water chamber, upon a diminution of the normalpressure in either of said chambers, a valve in said communication,means for normally holding said valve in an open position, meanscontrolled by the pressurein the generating chamber for closing saidvalve, and a safety valve casing connected to said communication andmeans associated with said communication for positively forcing waterfrom the water chamber through said communication into the generatingchamber to prime the generator.

7. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber and a gas generatingchamber, said chambers being closed for the maintenance therein of anormally high pressure, a normally open communication bet-ween the lowerportion of the water chamber and the generating chamber adapted toalternately feed water from the water chamber to the generating chamberand gas from the generating chamber to the water chamber, upon adiminution of the normal pressure in either of said chambers, means forobstructing said communication upon an abnormally high pressure in thegenerating chamber, a safety valve chamber in open communication withsaid generating chamber at all times, and a safety valve in said safetyvalve chamber and means associated with said communication forpositively forcing water from the water chamber through saidcommunication .ter chamber and a gas generating chamber,

said chambers being closed for the maintenance therein of a normallyhigh pressure, a communication between the lower portion of saidwaterchamber and the gas generating chamber, said communicationincluding a pump cylinder positioned within the water chamber, anormally open valve in said communication, means for closing said valveupon an abnormal pressure in the gas generating chamber, and a pistonmovable in said cylinder for initially forcing water from the waterchamber to the generating chamber to start the generator.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. DAVIS. WVitnesses:

WVARREN W. Conn, A. L. T. CUMMINGS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

